As a convenient and effective way to safeguard your skin from sun damage, mineral-based spray sunscreen has become increasingly popular with customers across the globe. It offers broad-spectrum coverage and provides excellent protection from the surface of the skin thanks to its gentle zinc oxide formula. However, to get the maximum benefits, you need to know some important dos and don’ts.
So, if you’ve got your pen and paper ready, let’s dive into those best practices and no-nos!
The Do’s of Spray Sunscreen
There are certain things that you need to do in order to have the best experience when using mineral spray sunscreen, such as shaking the bottle. Mineral sunscreens can separate in the bottle, so agitating the bottle is a wise idea so that it sprays easily. Here are a few other Dos.
- Do Apply Generously – Any type of spray sun product needs to be liberally applied to provide adequate coverage, so hold it 4 to 6 inches away from the skin and spray for around 2-3 seconds (or 2-3 pumps for manual bottles). After this, be sure to rub it into the skin until the coverage is evenly distributed.
- Do Reapply Every 2 Hours – When spending time out in the glare of the sun, you need to keep topping up your sunscreen to maintain the protection it provides. Regardless of what product you’re using, the basic rule is every 2 hours or 120 minutes – or more frequently if you sweat profusely or go swimming.
- Do Apply in a Well-Ventilated Area – While the most you’re likely to do by spraying this product in a confined area is accidentally breathe it in or have a nasty taste in your mouth, it’s still not advisable. As such, make sure you either apply it outside or in a room that has open windows or doors.
So, what about the things you should be avoiding? Here are the no-nos!
The Don’ts of Mineral Sunscreen Sprays
For roughly the same reasons that you shouldn’t use mineral sunscreen sprays in tight spaces, you also need to avoid using them outside in high winds. It could end up with sunscreen in your eyes or mouth – neither of which are very pleasant. If it is gusty outside, spray it into your hand first and then apply it to your skin. Other don’ts include:
- Don’t Store the Product in Hot Areas – If you leave your sunscreen spray in a hot car trunk or in direct sunlight, it’s going to degrade pretty quickly. That means the lotion inside might not give you the protection you’re expecting it to.
- Don’t Ignore Expiry Dates – Those expiration dates on the bottle are there for a reason, as the sunscreen inside only lasts 2 to 3 years before its ability to defend your skin starts to wane. If you notice that your sunscreen spray’s expiry date is in the past, it’s time to buy some more!
- Don’t Spray Onto Wet Skin – You have to make sure that your skin is dry before applying any type of sunscreen, as otherwise, it could clump and not work quite as well. Towel dry your skin first and it should be fine.
Getting the Utmost Value From Your Mineral Spray Sunscreen
Sunscreen sprays offer a convenient and easy way to enjoy sun safety, but as we’ve seen, getting the best protection from them involves avoiding certain mistakes. By following these dos and don’ts, you’ll not only have the best experience (with none of the product in your mouth or eyes!) while also staying safe from those nasty UV rays.
Remember to apply it correctly, reapply it often, and combine this with other common sun safety practices to enjoy the outdoors without worry.
